COVINGTON — SKC Inc., a Covington-based manufacturer of polyester films, is expanding its local facility, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Friday.

The expansions represents a $100 million investment and will create 120 new jobs, according to a press release issued by the governor's office. Hiring will begin in April 2011. Salaries will range from $35,000 to more than $100,000.

"Since opening its headquarters here in Georgia in 1999, SKC Inc. has been a valued member of the manufacturing community in our state," Perdue said. "I am excited to see SKC expand the scope of its business in Georgia and continue to create jobs that positively impact our state's economy."

The new 200,000-square-foot facility will be constructed at the existing Covington site off Hazelbrand Road. It will produce plastic film components for the solar panel industry and other products and will be constructed in two phases.

"Manufacturing in the state overall has slowed a little bit but is still expanding and here's a case in point," said Alison Tyrer, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "We have had two other facilities manufacturing solar materials locate (in Georgia) lately ... It's pretty exciting to see so many energy related businesses locating in Georgia. It's not entirely by accident, as we do focus on energy as a sector and we have advantages for manufacturers."

The state offered SKC an $8.5 million incentive package to expand in Georgia. The company was also looking at sites in other states, including Arizona and California. Local officials also offered a seven-year tax abatement for both phases of the build out, with the company to pay no taxes for the first three years and collections increasing incrementally by 25 percent the following four years.